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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


V 


4, 


,vl% 


L^. 


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■6r 


'^/a 


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1.0 


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2.8 


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HUM 

■  10 


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2.2 


IL25  mil  1.4 


12.0 


1.8 


1.6 


A" 


Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  H.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


f> 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Nota^/Notas  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquas 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  da  couleur 


r~l    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagie 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pellicul^e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 


D 
D 
D 
D 


n 


D 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  ether  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  inter'or  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  la  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutiea 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilmd  le  meilteur  exemplaire 
quil  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reprodyite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exigar  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


r~l    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 

|~7]    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
IhlJ    Pages  ddcolor^es,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 

□Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 

FT]    Showthrough/ 
l^/J    Transparence 

□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  inigale  de  I'impression 

□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

I      I    Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Seule  Edition  disponible 

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slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  iti  film^es  i  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 
Ce  document  est  film«  au  taux  da  reduction  indiqu«  ci-dessous. 
10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


12X 


16X 


SOX 


J 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Quebec 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Quebec 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  pago  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  filmds  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaTtra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — •►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Stre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  §tre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichd,  11  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  I'a.-igle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

I 


<^ 


<    y 


.Lil,  ,_.L.  JllBl.  _jL_1Iu..j_!.    ,,J„.."Li 


-^.l;iiU. 


^.'      ^?)^'.^'J33698 


SERMO>r, 

PREACHED  IN  BEVERLY, 


AUGUST    20,    1812, 


THE    DAY    OF    THE 


NATIONAL  FAST, 


OU   ACCOUNT   09 


WAR  WITH  GREAT-BUlTAINj 


ANO    AGAIN    AT 


THE  TABERNACLE  IN  SALEM, 

APRIL    8,     1813, 


THE   DAY   OP  THE 


ANNUAL  FAST  IN  MASSACHUSETTS, 


By  MOSES  DOW,  A.  M. 


V 


■*<v 


VI 


( 


SALEM! 

PKINTED    EY    JOSHUA    CUSHINO. 
1313. 


/ 


'/ 


~BlBUOTHi«UE 
PHILEAS^NOH, 

quebcc^Canaoa, 


i^ii 


,/'  A 


\ 


SERMON. 


Luke  xix.  41,  42. 

And  when  he  was  come  near,  he  beheld  the 

CITY,  AND  WEPT  OVER  IT,  SAYli^O,  If  THOU 
HADST  known,  even  thou,  at  LEAST  IN  THIS 
THY  DAY,  THE  THINGS  WHICH  BELONG  UNTO 
THY    PEACE  !      BUT     NOW     THEV    ARE    HID    FROM 

THINE    EYES. 

AV^ HEN  pur  Saviour  uttered  thefe  pathetic  words, 
he  was  on  his  laft  journey  to  Jerufalem.  There  he 
was  going  to  flied  his  blood  and  hiy  down  his  life 
for  the  redemption  and  falvation  of  a  loft  world.  It 
was  not  a  profpecl  of  his  own  fufi'erings  which  thus 
affected  him.  Thefe  he  had  always  expected,  and 
was  prepared  to  meet,  with  heroic  and  divine  forti- 
tude. But  a  forefight  of  the  miferies  coming  upon 
that  ungrateful,  perfecuting  city,  by  the  awful  juf- 
tice  of  God,  filled  his  fympathetic  foul  with  the  live- 
lieft  impreffions  of  grief.  He  feared  not  death  ;  but 
cheerfully  led  the  way  to  the  place  of  his  execution. 
From  the  mount  of  Olives  he  entered  the  city  Jeru- 
falem,  riding  upon  an  afs'  colt,  amidft  the  loud  ac- 
clamations of  joy  from  the  whole  multitude  of  his 
difciples.  But  when  the  benevolent  Saviour  beheld 
THE  DEVOTED  CITY,  he  burft  iuto  tears.  Ponder- 
ing upon  the  Jews'  wilful  obftinacy — their  rejection 
of  all  the  offers  of  grace,  and  the  utter  ruin  which 
awaited  the  city,  the  temple,  and  its  inhabitants,  he 


I 


wept,  with  the  tendered  companion.     And  he  ex- 
clainie  1,  "as  with  a  willi,  or  ardent  defire,"   If  thou 
hddji  kfwiun,  or,  Oh  that  thou  hadll  known,  i?i  this 
ibv  day,  the  things  ivhich  belong  unto  thy  peace  !    The 
Jews'  (^/^/j,  here  intended,  was  the  time  in  which 
they  had  been  honourea  and  favoured  with  the  pre- 
fencc  of  MiissiAH,  their  King.    This  was  their  day  ; 
for  Chrift  and  the  firll  preachers  of  the  gofpel  had 
fpent  all  their  time  and  labour  at  jerufalem.     They 
had  been  taught  repeatedly,  by  Chrift  and  his  apoi- 
tles,  the  things  which  belonged  X('>\\\q\x  peace ^-profpe- 
Tiiy  and  happincfs.     But  they  difregardcd  their  mef- 
fage,  would  not  believe  their  report,  nor  follow  their 
inllru'^icms.     J  heir  hearts  were  hardened  and  their 
minds  blinded  with  a  fpirit  of  inf:.tuation.    And  be- 
ing left  undery/rc7;^  dclufions  to  belt  eve  a  lie,  they  pre- 
ferred falfehood  to  irutli.    Thus  this  once  profperous 
city  was  judicially  given  up  of  God  ;    her  day  of 
gracious   privilege    was    then    expired, — her  doom 
was  palled,  and  every  thing  conducive  to  her  wel- 
fare was,  in  righteous  judgment,  "  hidden  froin  her 
eyes."     When  Jefu'-  approached  this  devoted  place, 
a  view  from  the  neighbouring  hills  awakened,  in  his 
fympathizing  bofoni,  the  livclieil  emotions  of  pity. 
■J'houirh  he  was  about  to  predicl  the  entire  defolation 
of  the  city,  he  did  not  dcfire  the  zvoful  day  : — he  did 
not  delight  in  the  deftruclion  even  of  fuch  wicked 
people.     And  therefore  he  exclaims,  in  the  language 
of  ;\rdent  defire,  mixed  with  regret,  "  Oh,  that  thou 
/jad/i  known,  in  ibis  thy  day,  the  things  which  belong 
tinio  thy  peace  !  but  now  they  are  hid  from  thine  eyes." 

The  propofitions,  which  we  conceive  deducible 
from  this  pafl'agc,  are  the  following  : 

I.  Nations  and  individuals  may  negled  the  thing* 
which  belong  to  their  peace,  till  their  cafe  is  defpe- 
rate  and  paft  all  remedy. 


belong 


dcfpe- 


2.  A  profpeft  of  ruin  and  mifery  coming  upon 
the  defpii'ers  of  God's  mercy,  will  excite  the  tendered 
compaffion  of  all  who  have  the  fpirit  of  Chrift. 

First.     Nations  and  individuals  may  neglecl  the 
things  which  belong  to  their  peace,  till  their  cafe  is 
defperate  and  pall  all  remedy.     Short  is  the  period 
of  human  life,  even  though  we  linger  out  threefcore 
years  and  ten.     And  fliorter  Hill  may  be  the  day  of 
God's  gracious  forbearance,  and  man's  favourable 
opportunity  to  fecure  the  divine  favour.     For  num- 
bers, in  every  age,  "  delpife  the  riches  of  the  good- 
jiefs,    forbearance  and  longfuffering  of  God  ;   rot 
knowing  that  his  goodnefs  leads  to  repentance :  but 
after  their  hardneis  and  impenitent  heart,  they  trea- 
fure  up  wrath  againft  the  day  of  wrath."     They  put 
far  away  the  ev'il  day,  till,  by  long  indulgence,  they 
become  feared  in  confcience,  and  incurably  hardened 
in  fm.    "  Becaufe  fentence  againft  an  evil  work  is  not 
executed  fpeedily,  their  hearts  are  fully  fet  in  them  to 
do  evil."     God  bears  with  them  from  time  to  time. 
He  tries  various  expedients  to  turn  them  from  their 
wicked  purpofes,  to  truth  and  holinefs.     He  vifits 
them  with  mercies  and  judgments — with  v.'arnings 
and   invitations — with  threatcnings  and  promilcs. 
But  when  they  have  long  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  all 
his  counfels,  flighted  his  propofals,  and  undervalued 
his  unfpeakable  bleflings ;— when  they  perfevere  in 
refitting,  quenching  and  grieving  his  Holy  Spirit, 
they   are   ripening  faft  for  remedilefs  deftrudion. 
For  the  Lord  has  exprefsly  faid,  "  My  Spirit  fhall  not 
always  Jlrive  ivith  man."     The  Spirit  of  God  hmg 
ftrove  with   men  of  the   old  world,  by  infpiring 
Enoch,  Noah  and  others  to  preach  and  to  warn  them. 
He  long  and  patiently  bore  with  them,  notwithftand- 
ing  their  rebellions,  waiting  to  be  gracious.    But,  at 
length,  incenfcd  by  their  obftinate  refiftance  to  the 


warnings  of  his  prophets  and  the  remonftranccs  of 
tlieir  own  confciences,  he  folemnly  rcfolvcd  to  leave 
them  to  be  hardened  in  fin,  and  to  ripen  for  deftruc- 
tion.     In  like  manner  the  inhabitants  of  Sodom  and 
Gomorrah,  by  their  filthy  and  abominable  wicked- 
nefs,  provoked  the  Lord,  not  only  to  withdraw  his 
reftraints,  but  to  make  them  the  monuments  of  his 
eternal  vengeance.     The  moft  aftoniftiing  forbear- 
ance the  Lord  manifelled  alfo  toward  the  Ifraelitcs 
in  the  wildernefs.     Forty  years  long  was  he  grieved 
with  that  generation.     At  length,  grown  indignant 
by  their  incclFant  murmurings,  ingratitude  and  re- 
bellion, he  fware  in  his  wrath  that  they  fliould  not 
enter  his  reft.     Their  fliort  and  limited  frafon  of 
probation  was  then  clufcd,  and  their  Hate  of  eternal 
retribution  commenced. 

If  we  trace  the  hiftory  of  the  feveral  kingdoms  of 
Judah  and  Ifrael,  we  find  them  fubjecl  to  frequent 
and  alternate  changes  from  profperity  to  adverfity. 
'Lhcy  were  taught,'  by  experience,  the  truth  of  that 
divine  aphorifm,  "  When  the  righteous  are  in 

AUTHORITY,  THE  PEOPLE  REJOICE  ;    BUT  WHEN   THE 
WICKED    BEARETH    RULE,    THE    PEOPLE    MOURN." 

^  When  fuch  men  as  David  and  Josiah  were  their 
kings,  their  times  were  times  of  reformation,  and 
Providence  fmiled  upon  all  their  concerns.  But 
when  fuch  as  Ahab,  Jeroboam  and  Manasseh  ruled 
over  them,  Providence  frowned,  wickednefs  increaf- 
cd,  and  the  land  mourned.  In  confequence  of  the 
great  wickednefs  of  the  people,  their  day  of  gracious 
vifitation  was  generally  fliort — their  fun  of  profpe- 
rity was  foon  covered  with  a  dark  cloud  of  adverfity. 
If  we  defcend  to  later  times,  the  glory  of  empires, 
kingdoms  and  nations  appears  ftill  more  tranfitory 
and  fading.  On  the  page  of  hiitory  many  of  them 
fuddenly  arife  to  view,  exhibit  a  temporary  fplen- 
dour,  and  then  quickly  difappear,  and  are  fecn  no 


ranees  of" 
I  to  leave 
r  deftruc- 
dom  and 
I  wicked- 
draw  his 
nts  of  his 
forbear- 
Ifraelitcs 
e  grieved 
ndignant 
e  and  re- 
lould  not 
frafon  of 
)f  eternal 

^doms  of 
frequent 
idverlity. 
1  of  that 

;  ARE  IN 
[lEN  TH£ 
URN." 

ere  their 
ion,  and 
IS.  But 
EH  ruled 
5  increaf- 
;e  of  the 
gracious 
f  profpe- 
dverfity. 
empires, 
•aniitory 
of  them 
ry  fplen- 
fecn  no 


more.  By  various  maflacres,  famines,  peflilence  and 
revolutionary  fcenes,  an  immenfc  multitude  of  go- 
vernments has  arifen,  fince  the  difpcrfion  of  the 
Jewifh  nation.  But  their  profpcrity  and  glory  have 
been  like  "  the  morning  cloud  and  the  early  dew.'* 
Where  righteoufnefs  has  abounded,  the  nation  has 
been  exalted  ;  but  when  fm  has  prevailed,  it  has 
quickly  funk  in  reproach  and  ruin.  This  has  ever 
been  the  courfe  of  providence  toward  nations  ;  and 
fuch  will  ever  be  its  courfe  to  the  end  of  time. 
Thofe,  who  make  his  laws  their  model,  and  his  word 
their  guide,  God  will  blefs  and  profper  ;  but  thofe, 
who  forfake  his  ordinances  and  the  light  of  his  word, 
he  will  leave  to  certain  deftruclion — to  perifli  with- 
out remedy.  Where  now  arc  the  once  flourifliing 
governments  of  Alia — the  birth-place  of  man,  of 
prophets,  apoftles,  and  the  Saviour  of  the  world  ? 
Alas,  they  are  crumbled  to  ruins.  Once  they  were 
the  theatres  of  mighty  works — the  refidencc  of 
many  holy  men,  and  the  fcenes  of  remarkable  divine 
interpofition.  Jerufalem,  that  city  of  folemnities, 
that  cradle  of  God's  antient  church,  where  refided 
the  fymbols  of  his  prefencc,  is  now  a  heap  of  ruins. 
It  was  often  and  alternately  rebuilt  and  deflroyed  by 
contending  parties ;  but  finally,  according  to  the  ex- 
prefs  prediction  of  our  Saviour,  it  was  utterly  dc- 
moliflied  by  Titus.  In  exact  fulfilment  of  the  pro- 
phecy, about  forty  years  after  it  was  uttered,  the 
city  was  razed  to  the  ground ;  and  its  inhabitants 
dellroyed.  Indeed,  fo  complete  was  the  defi:ruction 
of  this  renowned  city,  that  not  one  fti.ne  was  left 
upon  another  ;  but  turned  up  by  the  Roman  plough, 
in  queft  of  plunder.  This  was  in  righteous  judg- 
ment— for  their  crying  fins  ;  because  thev  would 

NOT    REGARD     THE     THINGS     WHICH    BELONGED    TO 
THEIR    PEACE. 

Greece  and  Rome,  once  the  feats  of  arts  and  fci- 
enccsj  the  moil  powerful  empires  and  miftrenes  oi 


% 


'■x%. 


ll 


the  world,  corrupted,  debauched  and  divided,  have 
long  fincc  fallen  a  prey  to  lavage  invaders.  A  de- 
luge of  ignorance,  barbarilin  and  fuperftition  has  ef- 
faced the  monumenis  of  former  learning  and  mag- 
nificence. I'lieir  proud  ambition,  enormous  cruel- 
tics  and  abominable  wickednefs  provoked  Heaven  to 
blot  them  from  the  lill  of  nations.  A  new  race  have 
fprung  up,  to  inherit  their  territory,  who  have 
formed  governments,  and  had  their  day  of  prof- 
perity.  Holland,  Switzerland,  Italy  and  Germany 
were  once  independent,  free  and  profperous  flates. 
But  not  knowing  the  time  of  their  vifiration — not 
minding  the  things  which  belonged  to  their  peace ^  they  be- 
came infatuated,  and  then  fell  an  eafy  prey  to  "  the 
mighty  power  under  whofc  iron  rod  all  Europe 
groans"  and  bleeds  at  every  pore.  And  they  fell, 
not  in  the  high  places  of  the  held — n*  by  force  of 
arms  ;  but  by  blindly  yielding  to  the  inftdious  arts  of 
iheir  defigning  conquerors.  They  had  drunken  of  "  the 
wine  of  aftonifliment,"  by  which  they  were  intoxi- 
cated, divided  and  enfeebled  ;  and  "  then  their  ruin 
became  inevitable." — And  can  we  fay  that  our  own 
nation  is  in  no  danger  from  this  intoxicating  cup, 
of  lofing  the  things  which  belong  to  its  peace?  Alas, 
whatever  be  the  caufe,  our  profperity  and  glory  are, 
in  a  meafure,  gone,  our  peace  is  fled,  and  war,  with 
all  its  baneful  attendants,  is  now  our  portion  !  'i'he 
caufe  may  be  traced  to  our  fms,  which  teftify  againft 
us.  Thefe  have  provoked  the  Lord  to  anger  ;  and 
his  anger  againll  fin  is  the  fole  caufe  of  all  mifery, 
perfonal  and  relative,  individual  and  national,  tem- 
poral and  eternal.  The  fins  of  profelling  churches 
have  often  provoked  the  anger  of  Heaven  to  remove 
their  candleftick  out  of  its  place ; — nations  tremble 
for  the  fame  caufe  :  yea,  the  whole  earth,  and  crea- 
tion itfelf,  groan  under  the  load  of  man's  guilt.  The 
judgments  of  God  are  abroad  iu  the  earth,  becaufc  of 


\ 


9 


ded,  have 
i.  A  de- 
on  has  ef- 
and  mag- 
)us  crucl- 
ieavcn  to 
race  have 
I'ho   have 

of  prof- 
Germany 
us  ftates. 
tion — not 
,  they  be- 
T  to  "the 
1  Europe 
they  fell, 

force  of 
us  arts  of 
1  of"  the 
re  intoxi- 
heir  ruin 

our  own 
ting  cup, 
e  ?  Alas, 
jlory  are, 
var,  with 
^x\ !  The 
fy  againft 
:!;er  ;  and 
1  mifery, 
nal,  tem- 
churches 

0  remove 

1  tremble 
and  crea- 
lilt.  The 
)ecaufc  of 


the  wickcdnefs  of  men.  And  when  we  colifider  the 
fury  ant!  r  ige,  the  mutual  carnage  and  dcllrudion 
of  nations,  does  is  not  appear  that  they  have  been 
drinking  of  the  intoxicating  cup  of  God  s  holy  in- 
dignation ?  Elfe  why  are  they  thus  maddened  in 
their  pafllons  to  wreak  their  vengeance  on  one  ano- 
ther ?  Why  does  a  nation,  upon  the  flighteft  pre- 
text, rife  up  againft  nation,  fothat  "  blood  toucheth 
blood  ?"  And  does  not  the  companionate  Saviour 
now  weep  over  this  infatuated  land?  Does 
he  not  liiy  to  America,  in  the  language  of  our  text, 
**  0^,  that  th  u  bad/i  known,  even  thou,  at  Icajl^  in  this 
thy  day,  the  things  which  belong  unto  thy  peace  !  Oh, 
that  thou  hadft  hearkened  to  my  commandments ! 
Then  had  thy  peace  been  as  a  river,  and  thy  righ- 
teoufnefs  as  the  waves  of  the  fea."  Had  we  as  a  na- 
tion hearkened  to  the  God  of  our  fathers,  and  to 
the  maxims  of  wifdom  contained  in  his  word,  th*^ 
had,  even  now,  been  our  happy  cafe.  We  fhould 
not  have  been  compelled  to  witnefs  "  the  confufed 
noife  of  the  warrior,  and  garments  rolled  in  blood." 
Had  we,  our  fathers,  our  princes  and  people,  all  uni- 
ted in  maintaining  the  worfliip  of  God,  and  unfeign- 
ed obedience  to  his  laws,  our  national  profperity 
would  not  have  been  interrupted.  'Jhe  things  which 
belong  to  our  peace  would  not  have  been  hidden  from 
our  eyes.  The  bleffings  engaged  to  Ifrael,  while  they 
adhered  to  the  fervice  of  Jehovah,  might  have  been 
expeded  in  this  happy  land.  "  Our  fons  would  have 
been  as  plants,  grown  up  in  their  youth, — our 
daughters  as  corner  ftones,  polifhed  after  the  limili- 
tude  of  a  palace.  Our  garners  would  have  been  full, 
affording  all  manner  of  ftore  ; — our  flieep  would 
have  brought  forth  thoufands  and  ten  thoufands  in 
our  ftreets — our  oxen  would  have  been  ftrong  to  la- 
bour— there  would  have  been  no  breaking  in  nor 


# 


I 


1 


10 

rrcnng  out, — no  complain^   nr  in  our  ftrects.     Happy 
is  the  people  that  is  in  fuc:   a  cafe  ;  yea,  happy  is  the 
people,  vvhofe  God  is  the  Lord." — Such  are  the  bleff- 
ings,  which,  in  the  ordinary  courfc  of  providence, 
are  generally  conferred  on  nations,  whofe  rulers  and 
people  faithfully  follow  the  maxims  of  the  gofpei. 
And  fuch  happinefs  w^ould  have  been  thine,  O  Ame- 
rica, had  this   been  thy  uniform    characlcr.     But 
how  art  thou  fallen  from   thy  former  greatnefs  ! 
How  is  thy  glory  departed  !     "  How  is  the  gold  be- 
come dim,  and  the  moft  fine  gold  changed  1"    Time 
was,  when  wc  were  the  envy  of  the  world,    rhe  fame 
of  our  independence,  freedom  and  profperity  rang, 
through  the  channels  of  commerce,  to  the  remoteft 
nations.     The  wealth  of  almoft  every  clime  was, 
through  this  medium,  wafted  to  our  fhores.     By 
this  our  national  treafury  was  repleniflied — agricul- 
ture and  manufactures  flourillied — learning  and  the 
arts  advanced  with  rapid  pace,  and  we  were  fwiftly 
emulating  the  greatnefs  of  the  firft  in  rank  in  the 
old   world.     Happy,  thrice  happy,  O  Americans, 
had  ye  known  what  happinefs  was  yours — had  yc 
regarded  the  things  which  belonged  to  your  peace.     But 
alas,  how  are  they  hidden  from  our  eyes !    We  arc 
now, 

2d.  To  fhew  that  a  profped  of  ruin  and  mifery 
coming  upon  the  defpifcrs  of  God's  mercy  will  ex- 
cite the  tendereft  compaffion  of  all  who  have  the 
ipirit  of  Chritt. 

David,  that  eminent  type  of  our  Saviour,  exhibits, 
in  a  lively  degree,  this  fympathetic,  chriftian  affec- 
tion. "  Horror^  fays  he,  hath  taken  hold  upon  me,  be- 
caiife  of  the  wicked  that  forfake  thy  law.''  "  Rivers  of 
water  run  down  mine  eyes,  becaufe  they  keep  not  thy  law.** 
"  I  beheld  the  tranfgrejfors,  and  was  grieved,  becaufe  they 


Happy 
>y  is  the 
he  bleff. 
vidence, 
ilers  and 

gdlpei. 
O  Ame- 
;r.  But 
eatnefs  ! 
gold  be- 
'  Time 
rhefame 
ty  rang, 
remoteft 
mc  was, 
•es.  By 
-agricul- 

and  the 
e  fwiftly 
k  in  the 
nericans, 
— had  yc 
■ce.     But 

We  arc 


,d  mifery 
1  will  ex- 
have  the 


exhibits, 
ian  afFec- 

on  me,  be- 
Rivers  of 
thy  law** 
'catij'e  they 


11 


kept  not  thy  word.'* — Having  the  fame  mind  that  was 
in  Chrift  Jefus,  he  was  grieved  to  the  very  heart,  to 
fee  others  blindly  rulhing  to  tiich-  own  ruin.  A  view 
of  their  finful  character  and  awfully  dangerous  ftate 
filled  him  with  tho  mingled  emotions  of  grief,  indig- 
nation and  pity.  He  mourned  ihe  wickednefs  of 
men  and  the  difhonour  of  God,  more  than  his  own 
fufferings  ;  and  he  wept  a  flood  of  tears.  And  no 
one  has  a  right  to  pretend  to  the  fpirit  of  Chrift, 
unlefs  the  fm  and  mifery  of  others  thus  deeply  affe<5t 
him. 

To  rejoice  in  another's  calamity  is  the  very  temper 
of  hell !  To  rejoice  in  the  hope  and  profpeft  that  his 
calamity  will  work  *or  his  good,  is  a  very  different 
thing.  1  his  is  coiiii-."ient  with  that  chriftian  benevo- 
lence, which  regards  our  neighbour  as  ourfelves.  If 
fore  afflictions  appear  neceflary  to  humble  and  re- 
form a  bold  tranfgreffor,  and  feem  likely  to  produce 
tb^t  happy  effect,  then  we  ought  to  acquiefcc  in  the 
divine  method,  and  pray  for  its  fucccfs.  But  to  re- 
joice purely  in  another's  diftrefs  is  inhuman,  anti- 
chriftian  and  diabolical.  The  benevolent  Saviour 
and  his  infpired  faints  have  taught  us  a  better  fpirit, 
and  fet  us  a  better  example.  They  mourned  and 
wept,  even  for  thofe  who  thirftcd  to  fhed  their  inno« 
cent  blood.  But  though  Jefus  was  a  man  of  for- 
rows,  and  often  groaned  and  wept  in  view  offuffcr- 
ing  humanity ;  yet  the  blind  infatuation,  pride  and 
obftinacy  of  fmners  diftreffed  far  more  his  fympa- 
thetic  foul.  "  He  looked  on  the  Pharisees  with  anger, 
being  grieved  for  the  hardi^fs  of  their  hearts.''  And 
when  he  beheld  the  infatuated  city  of  Jerufalem,  in 
fpite  of  all  his  counfels,  warnings  and  entreaties, 
rufliing  headlong  into  ruin,  his  pitiful  foul  diffolved 
into  tears.  And  were  the  Saviour  now  vifible  we 
fliould  doubtlefs  behold  him  weeping  over  the  condi- 
tion and  profpei^  of  our  own  guilty  land!    Our 


m 


12 
«Mr«.  nrofoerity  and  happinefs  are  on  the  rapid  dc 

'^Ubt'tttoo,  the  pride,  the  darling  and  boaft  of 
Am  rican's,  lik;  a  h/nted,  periecuted  fugmve  f^erns 
on  the  point  of  feeking  fome  more  hofpitabk  dime. 
Driven  from  nation  to  nation,  and  from  one  end  of 
c^h  to  another,  like  Noah's  dove,  flie  can  fcarcely 
find  relt  for  the  fole  of  her  foot.     For  a  courfe  of 
vears  fhe  has  found  an  afylum,  proteftion  and  pa- 
tronage  in  this  weftern  world.   .But  her  refidence 
becomes  more  and  more  precarious.     For  already 
haveTany  begun  to  treat  this  celeftial  vifitant  with 
ne?rlect,  or  cold  contempt ! 

.  rPreferrin?  the  unbounded  indulgence  of  hcen- 

tioufnefs  to  the  wholefome  "ft-^^'"" '"If  h^rifri 
nuine  liberty,  infuriate  mobs  burtt  the  barriers 
«  bich  heaven  and  earth  have  raifed  tor  the  fecurity 
n  Itfe  oroperty  and  happinefs.    The  deplorable  con- 
diti  nof  a'^fifter  ftate  excites  the  indignant  groans 
and  lympathy  of  all  the  humane-of  a  1  the  followers 
of  the  Lambf  That  city,  which,  like  Jerufalem,  had 
been  highly  exalted  in  privilege,  wea  th  and  fplen- 
dour  is  now  doomed  to  be  th  prey  ofthc/e,  who  rev,. 
tnem^Z  refpeB .0  charaBer, andM  tender mr- 
ekJe  cruel.     Even  the  diftant  report  of  their  mad- 
dened  fury  is  enough  to  chill  the  blood   and  freeze 
The  foul  with  horror  -    It  reminds  us  "f 'hat  furious 
mob,  who  wreaked  their  vengeance  on  Stephen,  the 
firft 'chriftian  martyr.     In  his  defence   before  .he 
Jewifl.  council,  his  pungent  d'Icourfe  cut  to  the 
heart  his  violent  perfecutors,  and  they,  1  ke  ferocious 
beaftSj "  gnafced  on  him  with  their  teeth. 

cnfe. 


«r" 


)id  dc- 

aifume 

oaft  of 
,  feems 
.  dime, 
end  of 
carcely 
urfe  of 
and  pa- 
ifidenee 
already 
nt  with 

of  licen- 
d  in  ge- 
barriers 
fecurity 
ible  con- 
t  groans 
■ollowers 
km,  had 
nd  fplen- 
who  reve- 
mder  tner- 
leir  mad- 
ad  freeze 
It  furious 
phen, the 
efore  the 
It  to  the 
ferocious 


»» 


in  brackets, 
,  but  at  the 
entenccs  lo- 
ader will  ex- 


1.1 

«  .  r  11  «f  tlir  Holv~Ghoft,  he  faw  in  vifion  a 
.T^Uv"!,f  h  afent  g"  'y.  Andwhen  he  procl.irn- 
difp  ay  °* ''^,"^fj/  °xafperated  perfecutors,  the  glo- 
ed  aloud,  bcforehu  »»'P"       ./     „  ^cy  cried  out 

"?1.'  '^"^d'vok"    and  ftopped^heir  ea'rs,  and  raa 

^^Thit'efee  that  human  nature  is  the  fame,  in  all 
the  >P°ft°>'^S.  „  °  Heaven  preferve  us.     "  0 

Haa  wc,  *  .       milrule  and  civil 

Lord.     But  by  «"  J  ^  j  anger,  and 

our  enemy  ;  and  unlelb  he  ™™  ™^>  ;g,,    -We 

have  mercy  upon  us,  wc  ^-^f^fg^'l^,  be. 
humbly  1«P^  j;<'J  tofXUrh'dde'n  from  our 
"V°  We  hope  a  p^ecTou/ remnant  may  yet  be  re- 
fIrved,To  Sf^ke  Godwin  be  entreated  to  fpare 


14 

a  guilty  land.  Were  it  not  for  this  pious  remnant, 
we  had,  ere  now,  been  as  Sodom  and  Gomorrah' 
Admah  and  Zeboim  !  ' 

There  is  no  truth  in  the  Bible  more  plain  than 
this,  That  it  is  on  account  of  the  righteous  God 
bears  with  wicked  nations.  Should  thefe  be  all  re- 
moved, the  wrath  of  heaven  would  foon  burft  upon 
their  guilty  furvivors.  In  proportion  as  this  clafs 
are  multiplied,  promoted,  and  abound  in  fruits  of 
righteoufnefs,  will  be  the  profperity  of  any  people. 
On  the  contrary,  the  more  wickednefs  and  wicked 
men  are  increafed  and  exalted,  the  more  the  anger 
of  heaven  is  enkindled,  and  ruin  haftens  apace. 

Let  our  nation  turn  to  the  Lord,  and  bring  forth 
fruits  meet  for  repentance.— Let  minifters  and  people 
unite  in  following  the  maxims  of  the  gofpel.  And 
then,  be  allured,  the  doom  of  Jcrufalem  fliall  not  be 
ours.  God  will  be  our  Ihicld,  and  no  weapons 
formed  againft  us,  fhall  eventually  profper. 

But  fliould  we  go  on  unmindful  of  the  ihings 
which  belong  to  our  peace — and  could  we  fucceed, 
in  conquering  the  only  free  nation  on  earth,  except 
our  own  ;— the  nation,  who,  bad  as  fhe  is,  is  doing 
more  than  all  the  world  befides  in  extending  the 
word  of  life  and  the  bleffings  of  chriftianity,  to  mil- 
lions ready  to  perifh  !*— Could  we  fucceed  in  con- 
quering that  nation,  which  now,  under  Providence, 
flands  between  us  and  ruin — what  Ihould  we  gain  ? 
Alas,  nought  but  poverty,  vice  and  flavery  ;— nought 
but  a  deadly  alliance  with  that  infidel,  atheiftical 
power,    "  ivhofe   armies   fJmll  foon    be   affembled  at 

*  It  is  faid  tJiat  the  Bible  and  Miffiomrj  fr ci^ties  of  Great- 
Britain  arc  payinp:,  as  a  frttwill  ofFcring,  not  hl\  than  five  hun- 
dred thoufand  dollars,  annually,  to  promote  the  gnfpel  among 
the  heathen  and  others  dcfl'tuto  of  the  means  of  religious  inflruc- 
tion.  And  all  this  in  addition  to  the  millions  they  expend  to 
fupport  the  gofpel  at  hr  me.— See  Rev.  Mr,  Webfter's  Thankf. 
giving  Sermon,  Nov.  26,  1812. 


,>*^ 


f  A 


■:*>,, 


anger 


15 

Armageddon,  and  fall  in  the  battle  of  the  great  day  of 

God  Almighty." 

The  grcateft  of  all  earthly  judgments,  with  which 
we  could  be  vifited,  would  be  an  intimate  confedera- 
cy with  infidel  powers.     For  vice,  like  the  plague,  is 
contagious.     As   fure  as  we  become  partakers  of 
viyfiical  Babylon's  fins,  we  mufl:  receive  of  her  plagues. 
Our  religion,  under  God,  is  our  defence  and  our 
^lory.     Should  this  be  deftroyed,  and  atheifm  pre- 
vail, then  farewell  to  our  peace  and  happinefs  forever  1 
Shall  we  not  all,  my  friends,  imitate  the  mourn- 
ing jcfus,  and  weep  over  our  infatuated  country  ? 
Our  former  glory  is  departed.    "  Darknefs  covers  the 
land,  and  thick  darknefs  the  people."    Our  joy  is  turn- 
ed into  mourning,  and  our  abufed  mercies  into  defo- 
lating  judgments.     Already,  diftrefs  wrings  many 
a  heart,  and  horrors  of  thick  darknefs  brood  on 
many  a  countenance.    The  arm  of  induflry  is  palfied 
by  the  fickening  afped  of  the  tim.es,  and  anxiety  is 
all  alive  in  expecTiation  of  fcenes  more  tremendous ! 
Thoufands  of  wives,  parents,  and  other  connections, 
now  feel  a  dreadful  folicitude  for  hufbands,  children 
and  friends,  who  are  in  danger  of  falling  a  prey  to 
a  provoked,  enemy.     The  profpecl  that  numerous 
widows,  orphans  and  beggars  will  be  multiplied  by 
this  defolating  judgment,  muft  give  pain  to  every 
heart,  that  delights  not  in  war  and  human  milery. 
Our  only  confolation  and  hope,  in  this  diftrefling 
feafon,  are  in    the  government  and  perfections  of 
God.     But  even  this  hope  and  confolation  we  can- 
not expecl  to  realize,  if  our  fins  continue  to  tefiify 
ag-ainft  us,  and  we  remain  impenitent.     The  rod  of 
dtvine  correction  will  tlill  be  ftretchcd  over  us,  and 
the  befom  of  deftruclion  will  fweep  us  away,  unlefs 
we  take    refuge  in  the    Ark   of  fafety,  unlefs  we 
«» break  off  our  fins  by  righteoufncfs,  and  our  ini- 
quities by  turning  unto  God."    "  The  name  of  the 


I 


16 

Lord  Is  a  Jlrong  tower :  the  righteous  runneth  into 
it,  and  is  fafe.'* 

Be  exhorted,  my  friends,  to  fccurc  this  refuge, 
and  then  you  need  not  be  afraid  of  evil  tidings. 
**  The  righteous  fhali  be  in  everlaftinff  remem- 
brance. He  fliail  not  be  afraid  of  evil  tidings.  His 
he^rt  is  fixed,  trufting  in  the  Lord."  Do  you  wiih 
to  avoid  Jerufalem's  doom,  and  to  fliun  the  plagues 
of  antichriftian  dcfpoilers  ?  Then  beware  of  the 
fafcinating  cup  Beware  of  "  the  wine  of  asto- 
NisHMiiNT."  Beware  offnares  laid  privily  for  yourde- 
Jirtidion,  Sell  not  vour  birthright  for  a  mefs  of  pottage. 
Barter  not  your  religion,  your  Saviour  and  your  fouls,  for 
any  paltry  gratification,  which  pattering  infidels  may  offer. 
But  behold  the  banner  of  the  Prince  of  peace.  En- 
lift  under  Chrift  as  your  Leader  and  Commander. 
Let  his  word  be  your  fword,  faith  your  fliield,  and 
hope  your  helmet  of  falvation.  This  is  the  conteft, 
to  which  we  are  called.  This  is  the  warfare,  to 
which  the  trumpet  of  the  gofpel  invites  you.  Join, 
as  volunteers,  this  ftandard,  and  then,  whatever 
be  the  doom  of  your   country,  victory  is  yours» 

You    SHALt,    COME    OFF    MORE    THAN    CONQUERORS, 

THROUGH  Christ,  who  hath  loved  us, 

AMEN. 


.*.-«^-., 


